Arizona bit her lip. Normally, answering for Callie was not a big deal. She wanted to get back to normal. Just do it, Zona. Callie internally beckoned.
"He–hello?"
Callie watched with pride as Arizona answered and talked to whoever was on the other line. She saw Arizona's hand violently shaking, but she stayed calm. "Yes, this is Arizona."
"No, Calliope is in the uh, shower," Arizona said. Callie stifled a laugh. "Yes, okay. I'll tell her. Thank you."
"Who was that babe?" Callie patted the bed beside her. Arizona climbed over and pressed a sweet kiss to her shoulder.
"The jury is in. We have to be back in half an hour," she whispered.
Arizona skimmed her hand over Callie's skin. "Then we should go get to that shower you mentioned really quick and get back." She rolled onto Callie for a kiss and then skipped into the bathroom. "Come on Calliope."
Arizona was tense. She was scared. They were confident that they had won, but it was nerve wracking. If the sisters walked, they could get at her so easily. They knew where she lived, where she worked. It wouldn't be hard. She shivered. This was the culmination of three days of hard memories. This was it. This would make or break her.
"Are you okay, honey?" Callie asked before they got out of the car.
"No," Arizona said softly. "Do you really expect me to be?"
Callie put her hand on Zona's shoulder, but the blonde shrugged away. "Baby."
"Let's just go," Arizona said, climbing out of their SUV. The Latina frowned but she too got out of the car. They had left hand in hand that morning, but Arizona was walking a good foot ahead of her now. Calliope sighed; they shouldn't have done what they did this afternoon. It was too soon.
They walked into the once again crowded courtroom. Arizona made her way up to the lawyer while Callie took a seat behind her in the gallery. They waited for the judge, and then all fell silent in weighted anticipation. Mark sat beside Callie and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a silent show of support. She leaned into him and waited, holding her breath.
"The jury finds Whitney Blake," the foreman said, "guilty of rape, aggravated sexual and physical assault, intent to participate in human trafficking, and kidnapping. Recommended sentence, twenty years without parole."
The judge nodded.
"The jury finds Penny Blake guilty of rape, aggravated sexual and physical assault, intent to participate in human trafficking, and kidnapping. Due to the nature of her actions, we recommend 25 to life."
Arizona breathed a sigh of relief and Mark squeezed her.
Callie turned around and looked at her. "You're free."
But Arizona couldn't hear her. She just held her eye contact for as long as she could. "I love you."
